The Rebellious Princess

Chapter 6

Cassandra

Nagising ako sa sakit ng ulo ko, sanay naman akong uminom pero talagang nasobrahan ko kagabi. I don't know kung nakailang shots ako. I can't even remember dahil sobrang pagkalasing ko. Nilibot ko ang paningin ko sa kuwarto kung nasaan ako dahil panglalake ang kuwarto at hindi ako pamilyar sa kung nasaan man ako.

"What the... where am I?" kunot noong tanong sa sarili ko. I can't remember what happen last night. Sino nagdala sa akin dito?

"I need to get out of here." bulong ko sa sarili ko at pinilit na tumayo sa kama para makaalis kung nasaan man ako. Lalabas na sana ako ng kuwarto ng pumasok ang taong hindi ko inaasahan. "What the efff... Is this for real?"

"Buti at nagising ka na, gigisingin na sana kita dahil tanghali na." nakangiting bungad niya sa akin. Is this true? Pinilit kong inalala kung ano nangyari kagabi and it hit me!

"s**t!" I cursed, why can't it be someone else. Bakit si AC pa...

"How did I get here?" hinihilot ko ang ulo ko nang tanungin ko siya at bumalik sa kama para makaupo.

"Nakita ka namin sa bar and you seem to be in bad mood. Halos lagukin mo kasi yung isang bote ng alak in a split seconds. Buti at nasalo kita bago pa mauntog ang ulo mo sa barcounter." paliwanag nito habang nilalagay niya ang dalawang kamay niya sa bulsa niya.

"Aren't you gonna thank him?" tanong ng isip ko kasi hindi ko alam kung magpapasalamat ako. Matagal ko nang kinalimutan na magpasalamat. Nasanay na akong walang nagpapakita sa akin nang care bukod kay Daniel. And speaking of him 'di ko pa pala siya nakakausap. I'm sure he's so worried about me. Bumalik ako sa katinuan ko nang magsalita ulit si AC.

"I know your hungry. Let's eat, nagluto ako nang tanghalian natin." aya niya sa akin.

"No thanks, I'm not hungry." pagsisinungaling ko kahit na alam kong gutom na gutom na ako.

"No I insist, your going to eat with me." tinignan ko siya ng masama. Sinungitan ko na't lahat lahat pero nakangiti pa din siya sa akin. Ano bang meron sa lalakeng 'to? Imbes na sagutin ko siya nagtanong ako.

"Did you see my phone?"

"It's in the side table. Didn't you see it?" sagot niya kaya napatingin ako sa sinabi niya and there I saw my phone. Pagkakuha ko ini-on ko agad. I switch it off last night dahil alam kong ita-track nanaman ako ni Daniel. I need to be alone last night.

"You need to eat kahit konti lang para magkalaman yang tiyan mo. It's lunch time already at hindi ka pa nakakapag-almusal." I just sighed in defeat, nakita ko naman na mas lalong lumapad ang ngiti nito nang pumayag ako.

"Okay, I'll just make a call." I dialed Daniel's number and ilang ring lang bago niya ito sinagot.

"Thank God, Ate! I've been calling you since last night but your phone was unattended. Where are you ate? I'm so worried." hindi magkandaugagang tanong nito sa akin pagkasagot na pagkasagot niya ng tyawag ko.

"I'm so sorry, Baby. Ate need to be alone last night."

"You didn't answer my question, Ate. Where are you?"

"I'm with a friend, no need to worry too much. I'm okay..."

"I'll be there, Ate, just wait for me. Send me the address and I'll pick you up right now. Magbibihis lang ako."

"Okay... okay... just don't tell them where I am."

"Copy, Ate. I love you..."

"I love you too, Baby. Drive safely..."

"Yeah I will, Ate, bye for now."

"Bye, I'll gonna text you the address." after the call has ended I was shock when AC talk behind me.

"Let's eat," tanong nito na sobrang ikinagulat ko.

"What the f**k AC! You almost got me an heart attack! I swear... I'm gonna punch you!" galit kong sabi sa kanya.

"AC?" nakakunot noong tanong niya.

"Annoying creature. I named you that because you're too annoying. You should be glad." simpleng sabi ko na ikinanguso niya. I almost laugh pero pinigilan ko.

"That's too mean, Cassandra." nakanguso pa ding sabi niya but I just shrugged my shoulders

We are sitting at his sofa resting. Katatapos lang kasi naming kumain, I must admit he's good at cooking. Sobrang sarap ng luto niya. Minutes have passed when I heard my phone ring. I know who's on the line so I just answered it.

"I'm outside the building, Ate, I'll just wait for you here."

"I'll be there in a minute.'" after ko sinabi yun, I hang up and face AC.

"Alis na ako, Daniel is waiting for me outside." paalam ko sa kanya na halata mong ikinalungkot nito. What's with his sad face? Nagpaalam lang ako ah.

"Hatid na kita sa baba." halos pabulong na sambit nito.

"I can manage, ayokong malaman ni Daniel na sa condo ako ng lalake nakitulog." ayaw kong tuksuhin niya ako, never akong nakitulog sa iba lalo na't lalake pa.

"Are you sure about that?"

"Yeah," maikling sagot ko. Nakita ko siyang bumuntong hininga.

"So I guess hatid nalang kita hanggang pinto."

Hinatid niya ako hanggang sa may pinto. Nakakailang hakbang palang ako nang humarap ulit ako sa kanya.

"Thank you for letting me sleep at your condo and for keeping me safe. Thank you, Chester." nakita kong nagliwanag yung mukha niya at ang paglawak ng ngiti niya. It's my first time to call him by his name. I just want him to feel that I'm sincere in saying thank you even if it's my first time.

"My pleasure, Cass. Anytime you'll be needing me just call me. I'll always be there for you."

Tumalikod na ako kasi ayokong makita niya yung ngiting sumilay sa mga labi ko. I never thought na ganito ang feelings na may ibang taong andiyan para sa'yo.

Sumakay na ako ng elevator pababa. He's condo was at the 17th floor. When the elevator stops at the first floor I walked out. Nasa may harap na ako ng building when I notice someone was staring at me. Nilibot ko yung paningin ko and my eyes stop at the two guys wearing all black at the corner of the street. Why are they staring at me? Tanong ko sa isip ko. Nagulat nalang ako ng may bumusina sa harap ko at tumambad sa akin ang naiinip na hitsura ni Daniel. I look at the two guys again pero pagtingin ko sa kalsada kung nasaan sila. Hindi ko na sila nakita, nagkibit balikat nalang ako. Siguro napadaan lang ang mga 'yon kaya 'di ko na inisip.

Bumaba na ako sa hagdan at sumakay na sa sasakyan ni Daniel. Kapapasok ko pa lang nag salita na agad siya.

"What took you so long, Ate. Sino ba ang tinitignan mo doon at nakatulala ka nalang sa parte ng kalsada, Ate?"takang tanong niya sa akin.

"Nothing, just drive, Baby." utos ko sa kanya na agad naman niyang sinunod. Hindi na ako nag tanong kung sa'n kami pupunta. I trust him kaya pumikit nalang ako.

Ilang minuto lang nang huminto kami at nagsalita siya kaya napamulat ako..

"We're here, Ate." anunsyo niya habang pinapark niya yung sasakyan. I didn't ask him kung anong ginagawa namin dito. I just followed him until we reached the 15th floor. Lumabas na kami at naglakad. Dalawang pinto yung nilagpasan namin bago huminto si Daniel sa ikatlong pinto at binukas ito. Napa-wow nalang ako nang tumambad sa'kin ang loob. It was beautifully made.

"Welcome to your condo, Ate..." shock was written all over my face when he said that. I just can't believe it. I have money to buy a condo but I didn't want to use it. It's my parents money and not mine.

"Did you like it, Ate? I just bought it now, just for you. Ayoko kasing kung saan-saan ka titira. At least now, I can sleep well, coz I know your here and safe. I love you Ate, always remember that." I smiled and hug him.

"I love you too, Baby. I'm so thankful to have you as my brother Daniel." I don't know what to do without him. He's my only strength and my life. I don't want to lose him. I smiled sweetly and hug him tight.